Superkart is a form of motorsport road racing that uses karts on long circuits. The bigger difference between a superkart and most other forms of kart is that they have full aerodynamic bodykits, as well as having a longer wheel base than sprint chassis, and are generally raced on car circuits over 1,500 metres in length. The power unit, most often but not exclusively two-stroke 250 cc engines, can be specially designed kart engines or production motorcycle engines with either five- or six-speed sequential manual gearboxes. Owing to their high top speed and superb cornering ability, a superkart's aerodynamic bodywork includes a front fairing, larger sidepods, and a rear wing. They use either 130-or-150-millimetre-diameter (5 or 6 in) tires and wheels and most often race on full size auto-racing circuits.
The 250 cc superkarts can set faster lap times than much more expensive and technically advanced racing machines.[1][2] Some British and Australian classes also include 125 cc gearbox karts. Superkarts race on "long circuits"[3] (e.g. Silverstone, Laguna Seca, Magny-Cours). In the UK they also race on "short circuits"[4] (e.g. Kimbolton); "short circuits" are under 1,500 metres in length.[5] Superkarts are raced worldwide. There is a multi-event CIK-FIA European Superkart Championship (for 250 cc karts only),[6] and there has in the past been a world championship, which was last run in 1995.[7]
- ^ Magny Cours F1 - Superkarts fire the crowds imagination !! - 6 July 2007
- ^ Superkarts — Super Speeds Archived 6 November 2011 at the Wayback Machine - Road & Track, November 2005
- ^ CIK-FIA 2011 circuit regulation Archived 26 June 2011 at the Wayback Machine - CIK-FIA, Part 1: Article 6
- ^ Race results & reports for all gearbox classes - 8 July 2007 - Kimbolton
- ^ Specific Regulations for Karting - Motor Sports Association (MSA), Circuits
- ^ CIK-FIA 2011 Karting Technical Regulations Archived 28 September 2011 at the Wayback Machine - CIK-FIA, Article 9: Specific Regulations for Superkart
- ^ "CIK-FIA European & World Champions in Superkart 250cc". www.mondial-karting.com. Archived from the original on 9 September 2011. Retrieved 29 June 2011.